2007 Ford Fusion Review

Ford introduced the midsize Taurus to critical acclaim in 1985. It quickly became the one of the bestselling midsize cars in the United States and often battled Toyota Camry and Honda Accord for the top overall sales slot. But Taurus seemed to lose its way in a 1996 ovoid redesign and began to fall out of favor with buyers. 

Ford quickly reacted to buyer's tastes and introduced a more conservative Taurus in 2000, but the damage was done. Competitors stole sales from Ford and Taurus' image was tarnished. 

In a classic case of if you can't beat them, join them, Ford dumped Taurus and introduced an import-flavored midsize sedan for 2006. All new from the ground up, the Fusion replaced the Taurus in Ford's lineup and now goes head-to-head against benchmarks Camry and Accord in size, power, and price. 

The Fusion rides on a 107.4-inch wheelbase and shares a chassis and engines with the Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr. Three models of the Fusion are offered, S, SE, and SEL. All are front-wheel drive. The S has a 160-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. SE and SEL are offered with either the 4-cylinder or a 221-hp V6 engine. Four-cylinder models come with either a 5-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic. All V6 models have a 6-speed automatic. 

Available equipment includes antilock brakes, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Stability control is not offered and traction control is only available on V6 models. Options include leather upholstery, heated seats, power sunroof, and a premium-audio system that features an MP3-capable 6-disc changer. 

Get up and Go 
With the four-cylinder engine and manual transmission, Fusion has acceptable acceleration from a standstill and decent passing response. It's no scorcher, but the four gets the job done with 156 pounds-feet of torque available at just 4000 rpm. Fourth- and fifth-gear passing response is lazy, but a double-downshift to third usually provides the required oomph. 

It's clear that Ford paid attention to the competition when designing the Fusion's engine mounts because the engine vibrations are minimal--even at high rpm. No, the engine isn't as smooth sounding as the import competition, but around town and in gentile highway cruising you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.
The manual transmission's shift linkage isn't the smoothest, but gears are clearly delineated and it's easy to shift quickly. Clutch action is light with a well-defined take-up point that makes smooth getaways from stoplights a breeze. 

EPA fuel economy ratings for the 4-cylinder/5-speed manual combination are 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. While those are respectable numbers, a light throttle foot and a good mix of highway driving will easily yield an overall average of 30 mpg, which is even more impressive. Add to that the fact that both the four-cylinder and V6 engine run on less-expensive regular-grade gasoline, and you have a very fuel-efficient package. 

On the Road
Fusion has a sporty, import-flavored ride. Undue body motions are kept in check and there's adequate compliance over large bumps. Overall, the ride closely mimics the controlled comfort offered by cars like the Accord and Nissan Altima rather than the soft float found on cars like the Chevrolet Malibu and Camry. 

The firm but compliant ride translates into pleasant predictable front-drive handling characteristics. There's little body lean in fast turns and decent grip from the tires when taking freeway on ramps. If pushed hard, the Fusion's front tires give up grip first and the car will understeer like most front-drivers. 

Steering is nicely weighted at all speeds, provides excellent feedback in hard driving, and has subtle control in highway cruising. Brakes have ample stopping power and the pedal is very easy to modulate. Antilock brakes should be standard equipment on a sedan that's intended for family use. 

One drawback of the Fusion's suspension design is an extremely wide turning circle. This is most frustrating when pulling in and out of parking spaces and navigating around tight-quarters parking garages. All in all, the Fusion offers sporty--albeit safe and predictable--handling, good ride comfort, and a solid feel on the road.

Behind the Wheel
Inside, Fusion doesn't look like your run-of-the-mill family sedan. The interior has an upscale feel with lots of soft-touch materials, upscale fittings, and a chrome-trimmed analog clock. Gauges are large and easy to read and controls are clearly marked, logically placed, and within easy reach. 

Surprisingly comfortable and supportive front bucket seats offer ample head and leg room for large adults. Standard tilt and telescope steering wheel makes it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel, and large windows and a low beltline contribute to excellent outward visibility. 

Rear seats are also adult sized and comfortable. Regardless of front seat position, two 6-foot adults are able to sit in comfort in the back seat. Taller riders will want more head and leg room, but overall Fusion offers more than class competitive rear-seat room. 

Responding to objections from Taurus owners claiming that their car wasn't as quiet as it should be, Ford paid extra attention to removing unwanted noise from the passenger compartment of the Fusion. Ford's hard work paid off as there's little wind noise, even at high speeds, and road and tire noise are kept well in check and on par with competitors. 

The large trunk is very deep and aided by standard split-folding rear seats and space-saving non-intrusive hinges. There's also ample interior storage, highlighted by a large glovebox and three additional covered bins on the dashboard and center console. 

Bottom Line
Ford's Fusion has got the value equation right. It's roomy, comfortable, sporty, efficient, and affordable. That's the same formula that made the original Taurus wildly popular and the formula Honda and Toyota used to vault to the top of the midsize sales charts. 

Fusion has more going for it than value, it's also got unique styling and, dare I say it, a bit of flair. That helps Fusion stand out in the industry's most competitive market segment, and makes it a smart buy for the value-conscious shopper looking for something a little different.